What are OzBargainers thoughts on 'Stan' media streaming service so far?

Infinite Monkee on 02/02/2015 - 14:02

For those who haven't seen or heard: www.stan.com.au is a new service to compete with Netflix and others.
Damn I was super keen to try it out and even installed the app on my phone (running a Nexus 5, and it works well)…then..well I never used it.
I have not streamed a single thing since the trial email…mind part of this is my lack of enthusiasm to ANY Television though. There is Fargo but we recently finished it anyway so probably would of watched it.

Have you used Stan?

Are you happy with the service so far?

Will you stay with it?

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Comments

  • Axelstrife on 02/02/2015 - 14:32

    I'm the same as you tested it all and haven't streamed anything in full yet lol
    it's lacking lots of content.
    Im not talking about tv shows or movies just seasons from tv shows that's been out for years and years they have 3 or so seasons and miss the 7 seasons,i checked a few tv shows and it's the same.

    it's a step in the right direction but Not there yet.

    They also need to not treat people who root there android devices like criminals and block them from their app.
    We can get around there tactics with rootcloat but that's not the point.

    No i wont be staying with them.

    • timbo13 on 02/02/2015 - 14:49

      They also need to not treat people who root there android devices like criminals and block them from their app.
      We can get around there tactics with rootcloat but that's not the point.

      You are lucky your device IS rooted. My MiPad is not rooted and it still says it is rooted. No way around it. Maybe if I did root it and then use rootcloak, it might work? :D

  • timbo13 on 02/02/2015 - 14:44

    I was eager to try it out but all 3 of our phones and 2 tablets are not supported. The only way I can play it is buggering around with the silverlight interface on our Media PC and that can't be controlled with a remote, so makes it not worth it.

    Their support gave me a test account to test on my Xiaomi MiPad but the Stan android app thinks it has been rooted (it's NOT rooted, I have checked). Presto's app appears to work fine without any complaining on my MiPad.

    They really don't want to make it easy NOT to be a pirate :S

    I'm hoping Netflix might have a better approach when they launch here. Integration with smart TV's (like iView, SBS) would be nice.

    • Infinite Monkee on 02/02/2015 - 14:51

      indeed, it needs to just 'work' as well

    • barghunt1 on 03/02/2015 - 10:06

      I'm also looking for a streaming service that supports different devices. As yet Stan hasn't released a windows phone app. Netflix does have a windows phone app available in other regions so hopefully they will make it available here when it arrives.

  • jasong on 02/02/2015 - 15:33

    Definitely gonna cancel before it charges me. I get watch history errors and it keeps cutting out in the middle of shows. No problems like that with Netflix/Hulu.

    Might use it if they ever bring out an app for Roku…

  • ESEMCE on 02/02/2015 - 15:41
    +3

    I was thinking about signing up for Better Call Saul, but then found out that it is on Netflix (outside US/Canada), so I'll be saving the trial for another show that I'm interested in thats not on Netflix somewhere on the globe.
    Netflix and flipping around the globe with DNS redirection is still too good a deal for me to switch.
    Sure I'm paying an extra $2/month (if that) but I get access to a hell of a lot more content and it works.

  • Methodical on 02/02/2015 - 15:47

    I'm quite satisfied with it
    Watched a few movies and docs all in HD. Occasional buffering screen but no biggie
    They have been adding a few movies lately as well which is good
    I'll keep it at least till Netflix comes out and compare both services to see which is better and go for the one with the better movie selection

    • Infinite Monkee on 02/02/2015 - 16:15
      +1

      I am going to keep an eye on both, just not enough content for me yet to part ways with my money

      • Methodical on 02/02/2015 - 16:40

        Fair enough. I got about 20 movies queued up i want to see and i only get through about 2 movies a week and $10 flat fee is great so for me it's a good deal considering no other alternatives in Aus at the moment.

        If they don't update the content enough i'll give it the flick.

        • djones145 on 02/02/2015 - 17:05

          I hear that you can play its on 3 devices simultaneously
          which is quite good, means u can share and its the cost of a coffee a month

        • Infinite Monkee on 02/02/2015 - 17:26

          @djones145: That is pretty cool! I just redid my home internet plan as well with iinet, now get 250GB/month so perfect for streaming to our hearts content. Going to give it a good go for sure, if partner finds it good will likely stick with it. I just don't want multiple paid subs just one good one…so time will tell.

        • djones145 on 02/02/2015 - 19:14

          @Infinite Monkee:
          looking at content its quite old, think wolf of wall street just got released (was 2014 I think)

          u need something to cast it (like chromecast or airplay) but being able to play 3 is awesome
          means u can share between 3 familys!

        • timbo13 on 03/02/2015 - 08:38

          @djones145:

          u need something to cast it (like chromecast or airplay) but being able to play 3 is awesome
          means u can share between 3 familys!

          Be aware that if you do cast it with chromecast, the device you are casting from (phone/tablet) and the chromecast itself will consume a device allocation each. So in reality to watch on a TV via chromecast it will actively consume 2 devices, leaving only 1 free, so you could only use a 2nd stream to a phone or a tablet but not another chromecast connected TV.

          And you can only change/remove devices once a month. So it's not really going to be suitable to share with multiple households and may even be restrictive in a single household with more than 1 TV.

        • ESEMCE on 03/02/2015 - 10:16

          @timbo13:
          Are you sure?
          I share a Netflix account (2 device restriction) and we regularly watch by Chromecast when the other household is also watching (by Laptop hooked to TV) without issue.

        • djones145 on 03/02/2015 - 19:10

          @timbo13:
          icic
          that crappy then!

        • timbo13 on 04/02/2015 - 15:51

          @scubacoles:
          I remember reading this restriction in the Stan help/FAQ a while ago, I think it was here:
          https://help.stan.com.au/hc/en-us/articles/203327430-How-man…
          Or maybe it was on one of the Chromecast FAQ pages. I can't find it now so it looks it was removed.

          Can anyone with Stan try this? Cast to a chromecast from a phone/tablet and then play 2 other streams on 2 other devices at the same time?

  • wonderboy on 02/02/2015 - 20:53
    +2

    Pro

    • Good selection for a start

    • $10 (if Netflix AU is going to be the same price then Stan is going to die quickly)

    • HD (I get 10-13mbps and there is no lag. I think you only need 4-5). I wish they would show the file sizes.

    Con

    • A lot of the TV shows don't have every season. Kid's shows only have 1 season. I want to watch ALL of Rocko's Modern Life.

    • No console apps and ipad/Android apps don't work if jailbroken or rooted.

    • Silverlight

    • No way to find out what content they have without signing up first.

    • No subtitles

    • A lot of the movies are in multiple genres (I know Netflix does it too) or in the completely wrong genre for instance Ghost Dog is listed in the 80s action even though it's not and action movie and was released in 2000.

    I've already seen/own a lot of the content so I don't see myself continuing after the trial and already have Netflix. Just gonna watch some Bond films before cancelling.

  • pjcook on 03/02/2015 - 07:18

    Once they have an App on Apple TV or App for my telly I will try it,

    • JediJan on 03/02/2015 - 09:26

      No App for TV ; is that just Apple TVs that have the problem or is it likely to work on my Panasonic Smart TV? Do ypu know if they stream 3Ds too?

      I am a month or two out of cancelling Vodafone wifi contract (only 25GB) and will be looking for something better, GB wise, aso.

      • pjcook on 04/02/2015 - 07:39

        From what I can see all you get at the moment is streaming to PC, Mac or tablet, with Ipad. iPhone you can air play to apple TV onto the telly, but that is a pain at best.

        • JediJan on 08/02/2015 - 12:29

          One of these days I shall have to read that dreaded book on this "Smart" TV. We mostly purchased it for the 3D qualities, which we (unlike most apparently) have been happy with. More than once it has asked to be connected to the internet but we have had not had the need so far. I can imagine if we do it would quickly zap our meagre limited GBs. It does come supplied with a Skype app but we don't even have need for that, so far that is.

  • ethereal88 on 08/02/2015 - 15:59
    -1

    Can't match a decent seedbox. I have hundreds of thousands of films on tap in a few minutes. Match that.

  • PurchaseAnxiety on 09/02/2015 - 22:49
    +1

    Considering it's just launched, I think many are being a bit too harsh on it. We've been asking for a Netflix like service for a while now, and that's exactly what we've got. There will obviously be teething problems, and the library needs to grow (you can only license so much with no revenue coming in) but I think it's a good start and I'm looking forward to seeing how it grows.

  • branners on 14/02/2015 - 14:07

    I have a number of friends who work in the TV biz…
    The networks were shi##ing themselves about the arrival of Netflix and were desperate to roll out their subscription services before Netflix launched. The result is that the their content has been rushed out, so it is not as comprehensive as they might have wanted. That side of it could pick up over the coming months.
    On the other hand, the response from the ABC was to commission record amounts of local content, which is starting to roll out now on their channels and iView (which, in my view, is the best online service, bar none, and it's free).
    I am waiting to see what the local version of Netflix looks like before deciding whether I will subscribe, or what I will describe to.
    On the other hand, the FoxSports is starting to look like good value now as well.

    • [Deactivated] on 23/02/2015 - 22:11

      Yeah if your a sports nut, then foxtel is the only real choice. Until the local sports organisations follow the US bodies & sell direct subscriptions. I suspect the AFL are only a few years away from that.

      For TV shows, again I suspect studios/channels aren't that far away from selling direct subscriptions.

      I agree iview/iplayer are the best portals at the moment. My 2yo can navigate around either (even turns the vpn on for iplayer) they're just easy to navigate & the content is very good.

      As for Stan, its really just a rush job before Netflix arrives, but IMHO is just in wide beta testing, so isn't perfect. But since Netflix has partnered up with FetchTV & their ISP, whom if they make Netflix unmetered will decimate the local efforts.

    • TRS-80 on 03/03/2015 - 00:45

      iView is only SD, I may be a snob but I can't stand not watching in HD now.

  • Ringu on 28/03/2015 - 13:03

    The service is good, very fair price too, but will not be using them after the free trial because they don't have CC's on their content :(

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